~Sheika Moments

Well I haven't put any of my videos of Sheika on here for a while so I thought I would. She is doing great! I know, I always say that...but its true. No she's not perfect, or finished but she tries and she keeps improving. So, she's doing great! Check out my you tube channel to see more of my horsie movies!

~We must

You know... sometimes I don't want to. I don't want to get up, I don't want to help, I don't want to be willing. But, that doesn't really matter.

Why am I here? Why is anyone here? Well let me tell you. The answer is throughout the Bible but I'm going to point out the verse in Revelation 4, where the 24 elders fell down before God, throwing their crowns at His feet. In verse 11 they said
"Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things and FOR THY PLEASURE they are and were created."

There we go. For His pleasure. So is this life about us? No. Is our pleasure and glory what is important? No. Only His pleasure and His glory.

Sometimes (well a lot of times for me) we get caught up in ourselves. What we want or don't want shouldn't be our priority. And really denying ourselves is what is required to be a follower of Jesus. He gave up everything for us to see and know the Father.

Something to think about: 
Can't and won't shouldn't even be in our spiritual vocabulary. God gives us the grace to do what we need to. The strength to accomplish. The power to overcome. When we say we can't we are questioning and limiting God's abilities to work on our behalf. When we say we won't we are just saying our will is superior to others' or God's.
Sometimes we need to stop and get a hold of ourselves. Who is running us? Actually that is a good question. We have to face it. You may have given your life to God but there is still a force out there working in opposition to Him and His will. That force is Satan. He tries to control our lives with these 3 things:

1. Worldly desires
2. Fleshly desires
3. Lies of Satan

And most times, one of theses will have more hold than the others. You need to identify it and remove its hold from your life so that God can have full control. Lets call sin, SIN!
I'm really tired of hearing people say "That is just the way I am." or "I can't help it."
Who do you serve?
Is your God so small that He has no power to help you overcome and be victorious?

The God of the Bible says
"Be of good cheer I have overcome the world, I will never leave you nor forsake you, I will make you MORE than conquerors, I will give you victory through Jesus, I will sanctify, justify, cleanse, forgive, heal, and protect. And oh yeah, when I am for you, who or what can be against you?!"   

The choice always falls back to us though. Will we accept all His promises and run with them or continue to live as we have in the fear, insecurities, guilt, selfishness, lust, and unbelief. (to name a few)
You choose. I choose. We must make a choice.
The fence is not an option. There is no middle ground.

~Prayer for an obedient heart

God give me the heart of obedience. One that says "Not my will, but thine be done!" and then lives it out. Help me to truely desire to do Your will, not simply out of compliance but from sincere submission. Take away any spirit of fear or inadiquicy and replace it with an immense confidence in You. Let me not shrink back at the uncomfortable tasks or the awkward assignments but let my answer and attitude be "anything for You, Lord!"
Father forgive me for the times I haven't been obedient. For the times it felt too awkward to speak the truth. Or the times I was embarresed to step forward and help.
Show me how to delight in Your service. To serve with joy and humility as only a true daughter of the King of Kings would.
The servant is not greater than her Lord. Your Son obediently gave everything, right down to His very life. Lord let me follow in His footsteps. Let me follow in obedience.

~Prayer for a patient heart

God give me the heart of patience. Help me to willingly wait on your time. Let my heart be content with your will and not be looking ahead for seemingly grander things. Show me what to do while I'm waiting so that this time is not wasted. Help me not to gaze around and compare myself to others but be satisfied knowing I am where You want me to be. 

O God forgive me for the times I jump ahead without Your consent. Forgive me for the times I have been discontent with my place in life. 

Give me a zeal for being right here, right now, even when I can't see the value in it.

God help me to bloom, 

no THRIVE here 

(as insignificant as it may sometimes seem)

 right where I'm planted!

~Prayer for a warrior's heart

God give me the heart of a warrior. Give me the courage to stand faithful and steadfast against the enemy's advances. Let my heart not quaver at the sight of battle but forever look to my Captain. 

Teach me to fight. But only in Your name and for Your glory. Stop me from engaging in useless battles. Direct me in when to fight and when to walk away. Show me the battles that aren't for me, so that I am not hindering my comrades. Give me eyes to see the wounded and dying all around me. Let me not overlook them. But God give me a burning hatred for the Enemy and all his ways. Give me zeal for overthrowing his kingdom and setting those he holds captive free! 

Remind me constantly where my strength comes from and how often I need to seek more. 

Forgive me for the times that I desert in fear. Show me how to rise from the ashes and once again wield your sword!

For in Your name

I WILL CONQUER!

~Left behind, or not?

Well some of you may know this, some may not. My sister is getting married soon. My younger sister. You know, I'm really happy for them. I'm excited to get another brother. And they'll be living only 10 minutes away.

But what about me? An older sister watching her younger sister get married before her. Is it hard? Awkward?

Honestly, no, not really. At least, not now. Yeah I had to work through some things. But I want to be content with God's will and His best. He knows best. 

There are times when I think "But God will it ever be my turn? Is there a guy out there for me?" and He always says the same things.
"Maybe, but are you satisfied with me? Is your heart content with me? Do you long to have an intimate relationship with me like you desire with a husband? Am I enough?"

Seriously, that is what always comes back. I know if my heart is wandering and discontent right now there is no way I'm going to be happy and content with a man by my side.

So am I content right now?

...Yes!

 I am very much at peace and I'm loving where God has me.
Some days can feel trivial and more meaningless than others but that is only because I have lost my focus. When my attention is on God and what He is doing in my life, where He's taking me and relationships He adds for my growth...those days are satisfying, wonderful and so fulfilling!

Lets not lose focus.

Things don't fulfill. God does.

Relationships don't satisfy. God does.

God is still the answer.

~Isaiah 43:1-3

Whenever I feel Satan get after me and tell me that I'm not really that important or special or just maybe why would God want you? I get really inspired by Isaiah 43:1-3
(I put it in my own words so it applies to me)

"Fear not Heather for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burnt; neither will the flame kindle on you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Saviour."

Hopefully you can be inspired by this too!

~His love

You cannot buy His love, He gives it freely.
You cannot earn His love, He gives it freely.
You cannot work for His love, He gives it freely.
You cannot be good enough for His love, He gives it freely.

His love is not dependent on you. There is only two things you can do: accept it or reject it. Either way you can't change the fact that He loves you. Accept it! Claim it! Hold tight to it and let the fact that God loves you unconditionally change you.
Yes, you should be in awe of that fact, and yes, it should take you to your knees in worship and praise. Does it? Do you accept God's love?
I'm not sure how, but some people come to the conclusion that since God loves me I'm free to do what I want. That's wrong. Who God loves He disciplines. He's not just going to allow you to live in sin. Sin always has consequences. His love is also not an excuse to live in the flesh. If you don't believe that please read Roman 6. (Love that chapter) His love should motivate us to love Him and then to love others.
You know just because we sin does not mean God loves us any less. It will sadden Him and even separate us from Him, but His love it still there. How, you may ask. Simply because GOD IS LOVE.

~People need help

Please Help
I'm tired of losing, I'm tired of trying
My heart feel broke and I'm tired of crying
I'm all bound up and emotionally tied
I put on a smile but I'm crying inside
They ask how I'm doing, I say that I'm fine
But no one notices, or don't have the time
If only they'd stop, if only they'd care
I might feel safe to open and share
The hope I've lost, the misery I feel
How I wonder if I'll really be able to heal
Is life worth living when I have no hope
Sometimes I wonder if I'll be able to cope
I'm tired of losing, I'm tired of trying
I don't care any more 'cuz inside I'm dying



I can in a very small way relate to this person. Very small. But my heart goes out to them.
I want to notice them, because I know what it feels like to be overlooked.
I want them to feel loved, because I have been hurt by unloving people.
I want to take the time to look into their eyes and see the pain, because I've been hurting and people don't realize it.
I want to show them Jesus, because He's the one who can love them unconditionally. Who can touch their hurt and take it away.
It's not about me, its about Him. And with His help I can make a difference in someone's life.

~He gives freedom

2 Corinthians 3:17b

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

There is no bondage in Jesus Christ, only freedom. He is the essence of freedom. Until you surrender your will over to Him, you will not know freedom. Maybe you have though. You've given your life to Jesus Christ, but deep down inside you know there are still areas you don't have victory in. If there are, you need to call it what it is. (That little bad word) Its sin. It needs repented of and given to Jesus.
One problem. Its not always that easy. 
Why? 
Because you are taking back ground that Satan had control over. He never gives up anything without a fight. Rebuking him and sending him away is the next step. And praise God He gives you the power to do it!
But remember the parable Jesus told in Luke 11 about the unclean spirit that was senyt out of a man? It wandered around in barren places looking for rest but not finding any, it decided to return to the man. What a surprise it found when it came back! Everything had been swept and cleaned! So the spirit went and got 7 other spirits more wicked that himself. So it ends that the last state of the man was worse than the first.
Then what's to be done?
The man's fault was in the fact that he did not refill the place that the spirit had been in. When something bad is gotten rid of it needs replaced by something good.
The key then is to beg God to fill the emptiness in your life and to close the doors that Satan has used to gain entrance in.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

~John 16:33

~What's important

So while we were out in Arkansas we made up our "first" inspirational short film. I was a little hesitant to put this on, but we made it to share and encourage so, I pray that it can be!

~Riding Sheika bare back

So this is like the first time I really rode Sheika bareback. And I hadn't even rode her for over a month! My sweet little girl! I just can't believe how awesome she is. I have to keep thanking God for bringing her into my life!

~Fall riding party

This fall I had my two riding students and their families over for a riding party. It was a lot of fun having all the horses out (except Sheika) riding and switching mounts around. The horses did good. Hank as always was very lazy! I took them two at a time for a quick trail ride before dark and I did a small obstacle challenge. They all did really good, even the guys who don't ride much. So I put together a movie of that day! Enjoy!
 

~We have the power

A few weeks ago I went with my parents to a Land of Promise conference that was held in our area. Was it good? Absolutely! I was so inspired, encouraged, and challenged by the speakers and especially my group leaders.
Its hard to pick out what I appreciated the most about it but tonight I was really hit by something God showed me in one of my small group sessions.
We were praying and at the end my group leader would always wind up with "Holy Spirit speak to my heart." And so we would stop and listen, then she would look around at each of us and ask "What did He tell you?" Well, this particular time I very distinctly heard "You have the power to love."
Now I have to say I do love... but I don't love. What I mean is, in my heart I do but I have always had trouble showing it, and expressing it to others. I'd always say things like "I'm not a huggy person." Or "I'm not the emotional type." But God so impressed it on me, that He has given me the power to love, and to show it to others. It's always been there. But I was not embracing that power. I was not living in it. (Not saying that go around giving everyone hugs now) Does that make sense?
Since then I've caught myself thinking, I'm not like that. But you know what? By God's grace I can be and will be! I am not bound to what I was or think I am. I have been adopted by the God of the universe and set free by the death of His Son. I have the power! Not in myself. Not in my abilities, talents, or strengths, but by God's grace!
So I want to specifically point out one that I hear lots of people use. "I'm not a talkative person." You aren't? Maybe not. But does God want you to be? Does it stop you from sharing with people and offering encouragement when its needed? If so, that is not God's will for you! You really are believing a lie! Is God's grace not enough? Does He lack in strength? Where God guides, He provides!
And He said unto me "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    2 Corinthians 12:10
God showed me something a while back. I was struggling with something, but then it dawned on me. If I did not struggle, I would have no need for His power. That is really what I see in this verse. God stands there with His hand stretched out towards us. Holding in front of us the strength and power we need. But until we reach out in faith, and actually believe that it is enough, we never experience all that God has to offer.
I always thought that I had faith and believed God. But at the conference I actually started looking and even more, expecting God to move. For Him to do what He said He would. Or to grant what we asked. And He really did. He really does. I guess it all comes down to "Do we believe what God says, He will actually do?"
We have the power, if only we have the faith to believe it and do it.

~Our first music video!!

Hey! So while we were in Arkansas we decided to make a music video. Slightly a spur of the moment thing...soooo after some tinkering, we (me and my uncle Joel) got it all put together! We prayed about it and over it, and I really feel God blessed our efforts! No, it's not professional! When I watch it now I see all the problems we had with editing and some videoing... but all in all we're happy with how it turned out.